Automatic machines for filling bottles, cans and the like



Feb. 2, 1965 E. PELLERINO ETAL 3,163,123

AUTOMATIC MACHINES FOR FILLING BOTTLES, CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS,

ARTHUR MAR TORELLL,

"R ERNEST PELLERINOI 'I I BLANK ATTORNEY E. PELLERINO ETAL 3,168,123

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1965 AUTOMATIC MACHINES FOR FILLINGBOTTLES, CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1962 United States Patent3,168,123 AUTGMATIC MAQHKNES F811 FXLLENG BQTTLES, CANS AND THE LIKEErnest Pellet-inc, 518 E. 6th St., New York, N.Y.; Arthur Martorelli,1035 Crawford Ave, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Harold Blank, 27-23 167th St.,Flushing, NX.

Filed Jan. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 168,334 7 Claims. (Cl. 141-147) Thepresent invention relates to automatic machines for filling bottles,cans and similar containers, wherein a series of valve-controlled,vertically-slidable filling nozzles arranged equi-spaced around acircle, are associated as a rotating unit and by suitable cam means arein proper timed relation, respectively lowered into and then raised outfrom the mouths of bottles and the like, carried on a horizontal endlessconveyor, part of whose path is around part of a circle, concentric withthe nozzle assembly formation. More particularly, this invention isconcerned with a filling machine to accommodate bottles of differentheights in respective runs.

Heretofore, in commonly used filling machines, some part associated witheach individual nozzle structure, had to be adjusted to suit a bottle ofdiiferent height than the machine was set for or required other timeconsuming manipulations therefor. All this, of course, entailed a laborcost and appreciable time lost while the machine remained idle, foradjustments to be made.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide afilling machine of the class mentioned, making it quick and easy to setthe machine for any height of bottle, within the range it is designedfor.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved filling machine of thecharacter described which is made up of less parts than was possibleheretofore, because what required a multiplicity of adjustments is nowavoided; it being evident that everywhere an adjustment is required,there must be plural parts to constitute an adjustment means. With thepresent invention, all that is necessary to do to accommodate differentheight bottles, is to loosen one part, move it by operating a handle andthen tighten said part.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedfilling machine of the kind set forth, having the attributes mentioned,and which affords adjustment for height of bottles by simple andreasonably cheap means which is efiicient in carrying out the purposesfor which it is designed. Of course, various re-arrangement of parts isresorted to in order to bring about the required functionalrelationships, but this is done rather as a saving than at additionalexpense.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosureproceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one form it may assume is to havethe nozzle-lowering and raising cam in the form of a separate ringcarried by the nozzlecarrying unit which is mounted on a rotatingvertical shaft along which said unit can be shifted and then secured inits set position therealong. Said cam is held concentric with said unit,but stationary in relation to the machine frame. Each filling nozzle hasa follower engaging said cam and there is a means to raise and lowersaid unit to any needed height above the conveyor. Said shaft carriesone of the sprockets of the conveyor system and said means to shift saidunit on such shaft, is mounted on said sprocket. Such means may be avertical screw which is swivelly journalled on said sprocket and inthreaded engagement with said units frame. On a bracket fiXed atop saidsprocket, there is a relatively small bevel gear journalled on ahorizontal axis and in meshed engagement with a larger bevel gear whichis fast on said screw. The stud shaft which carries the smaller gear isadapted to releasably receive a crank, the turning of which when somounted, will cause the nozzle-carrying unit when loose on its shaft, tobe raised or lowered therealong.

For a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, resort will be had to the accompanying drawings which arepart of this specification, in which drawings similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bottle-filling machine embodyingthe teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the conveyor system of said machine,in diagrammatic fashion, drawn to a reduced scale.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section and drawn to a reducedscale, showing the shaft carrying the mentioned sprocket and part of theframe of the filling nozzle unit. Also shown is the means used in thisembodiment to shift said unit along said shaft.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view drawn to the scale of FIG- 3, showing thecam employed in this embodimen In the drawings, the numeral 15designates generally a filling machine, atop whose table frame 16 is ahorizontally positioned conveyor belt 17 of any suitable design, mountedon the sprockets 18, 19, 20 which are on the vertical shafts 21, 22 and23 respectively, any one of which is driven by a motor withspeed-regulating means not shown, but well known in this art. Thesprocket 20 is arranged so that belt engagement with the comparativelylarge sprocket 18 shall be the major part of a circle to give anappreciable run sufficient to accomplish the filling of a bottle whichcomes on the conveyor belt 17 from the region of the sprocket 19 andpasses through aligning and positioning means indicated at 24, 25 and 26and thence is in position to receive therein a filling nozzles spout.The shaft 21 extends upward above the conveyors plane and carries around table 27 centrally thereof. This table 27 has a hub 28 with bolts29 to fix said tables position along said shaft 21 and when loose, saidtable can he slid along said shaft. For this purpose, there is thevertical screw 3%, swivelly journalled to the sprocket 18 and threadedlyengaged in a hole through said table 27. This screw carries acomparatively larger bevel gear 31 near the top or" the sprocket 18;such gear being in meshed engagement with a smaller bevel gear 32journalled on the bracket 33 which is mounted atop the said sprocket.The stud shaft carrying the gear 32 offers a releasably engagingconnection at 34 for a crank 35.

In the embodiment illustrated, identical filling-nozzle structures as 36are in proper equi-spaoed relation about a circle between and concentricwith a central auxiliary tank 37 secured on the table 27 and theseparate ring cam identified by the numeral 38 generally, which ispositioned over the perimetral lane of said table 27. Said ring cam 38has bottom wheels 39 which fit for rotation in the circular track 4t)near the tables edge and lower wheels 4-1 on depending bars 42, forrolling contact with the underside of said table 27. An arm 43,extending horizontally from said cam, is slidably mounted on thevertical post 44 which is fixed to the frame 16. It is thus evident thatthe cam 38 will remain stationary with respect to the frame 16 while theshaft 21 and all it carries rotates and will go with the table 27 whenthe latter is slid along said shaft.

Reference to incidents of construction of the fillingnozzle structure 36will suffice for each of its series. As here shown, the overflow tube 45is slidably mounted through the table plate 27 and the top ring-rail 46of a barrel cage denoted generally by the numeral 47 and such tubecarries a block 48 on which there is a roller 49 serving as the followerassociated with said cam 38. To have the follower always in properassociation with the cam, said block 48 is slidably mounted on avertical post St) of said cage, which is secured at its bottom end tosaid table 2'7. Said overflow tube 45 is of a unit having a valve means51 whose intake port is communicatively connected with the bottominterior region of the tank 37 by a flexible hose 52 and whose dischargeis through a filling spout 53 which enters the container to be filledwhen the structure 36 is lowered by action of the cam 38.

Any type of filling nozzle structure may be used in this machine, theactuation of whose valve means may be accomplished by any mechanical,electrical or pneumatic agency to open the valve when it is to dischargewhen the discharge spout is entered into the container and to close whenthe filling operation is completed. In the particular embodiment shown,those versed in the art will readily recognize that the fillingstructure 36 is of the type wherein the valves filling spout 53 has acollar 4. cam rests atop said table. During vertical movement of saidtable 27, the arm 43 will slide along the post 44.

54 secured thereon, whose bottom is faced with a rubber ring 55. Thevalve 51 is slidably associated with the overflow tube 45 and is biasedby a compression spring 56 against the collar 57 fixed on said tube tobe downward on such tube whereupon said valve is in closed ply in thetank 37; the latter being replenished from a main source controlled bythe float valve 53 determining the level of liquid in said tank 37. Anyoverflow is rought through the flexible. hose 59 back intothe tank, dueto action of the appreciable air pressure built up in the containerwhich as mentioned is sealed and the overflow tube has ceased acting asan air vent.

The cam 38 may be made of a ring 60 and a part of a ring as 61 weldedthereto as shown in FIG. 1, or both said parts may be integral asindicated by the numeral 38' in FIG. 4. Dimension of these parts shouldbe such that the low portion 66 shall be of sufficient arcual length toserve as a track for the cam follower 49 to accomplish low position forthe filling-nozzle structure 36 for the filling operation and the highportion 61 of said cam shall accomplish raised position for saidfilling-nozzle structure for the balance of a revolution of the shaft21,

during which the valve means of the filling nozzle is closed; afiordingthe drop along the edge 62 and the rise along the edge 63 for the roller49 to follow. The weight of said structure 36 is relied on to make itfall from the high to the low part of said cam. However, when the valvemeans is of the type illustrated where it is required that the overflowtube shall descend further after the container is contacted by therubber-covered collar 54, the roller 49 is here restrained by theauxiliary cam element 64 sd that in the travel of said roller along thelow cam part 60', it shall be in a track formed by the uniformly-spacedcam parts 60 and 64.

To set the machine 15 for filling containers of a given height, simplyloosen the bolts 29 :to free the turn-table 27 for sliding movementalong the shaft 21. Then apply the crank 35 at 34 and turn it to revolvethe screw 30 to bring the turn-table and all it carries to the requiredposition. Then tighten said bolts to set the said table fast on itsshaft 21 which holds it against relative rotation by virtue of key inkeyway $4. The machine is now ready to run after the tank 37 isfurnished with its continuous liquid supply and the motor speed isadjusted so that the container shall be filled with a predeterminedquantity of stuff from said tank 37.

It is evident that as the height position of the table 27 is changed,the cam will move with it; downward, because of the weight of the camand upward, because the said The cam part 64 and the wheels 41 used inthis embodiment are required only because of the special structure ofthe particular filling nozzle 36 shown, in that the follower 49 needsrestraint against upward movement while on the low part of the cam whensaid follower bears against, said cam element 64, so that the action ofthe springs 56 should not raise the cam. In embodiments of the presentinvention where the nozzle-filling structures employed are of the typewhich only require to be lowered and then raised, said cam part 64 andthe wheels 41 may be omitted.

Of importance to note is that the cam never turns with the table 27 andat all times remains stationary with respect to the machine frame,concentric in relation to the circle of the filling structures and thatit will travel up and down with said table 27.

The brackets 66 extending from the cam, offer support for an uprighttubular shield (not shown) about the upper structure.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applicationswithout departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It istherefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shallbe deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shallcover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had tothe following claims rather than to the specific description herein toindicate the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a machine for filling bottles, cans and similar containers, aframe, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, a cam offering aring path for cam followers, positioned about said shaft, means holdingthe cam so that said ring path is constantly concentric with said shaft,a member fixed on said shaft and releasable for sliding movementtherealong; said cam being supported by said member to move with italong said shaft, a vertical post fixed to the frame, an arm extendingfrom said cam, slidably fitted on said post for movement therealong, atleast one vertical elongated element slidably mounted through saidmember, a valve-controlled discharge nozzle adapted to enter thecontainer to be filled, carried on said sliding element, a cam followercarried at a fixed position on said sliding element; said cam followerbeing in constant contact with said cam ring path; said cam path beingat a prescribed height along a first predetermined portion of a circleand at a lower height along a second predetermined portion of suchcircle; said circle portions being spaced; said cam path along theremaining portions of said circle, being slanted from said first circleportion to said second circle portion; said slanted cam path portionsrespectively connecting the first and second circle portions of saidring path whereby such path is endless and conveyor means below thedischarge nozzle for transporting a container along a predeterminedportion of the path of said discharge nozzle around said shaft.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cam is atop saidmember and of suificient weight to remain and follow said member whenthe latter is moved along said shaft.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means carried by theshaft for moving said member along said shaft when said member isreleased to be able to move along said shaft.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the mentioned meanscomprises a second member fixed on said shaft, a vertical screw swivellyjournalled on one of said members and thrcadedly engaged in the othermember and means for turning said screw.

' 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the second member is awheel structure in operative engagement with the conveyor.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for turningthe screw comprises a bevel gear fixed on said screw, in meshedengagement with a second bevel gear carried rotatably on the secondmember on a projecting stud shaft carrying the second gear fast thereon;said projecting stud being adapted to receive a crank.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cam is a ringpositioned about said shaft; the cam path being offered by the upperedge of said ring; the cam follower being in contact with such upperedge and said cam including a portion of a ring fixed thereto andpositioned along and above the major part of the length of said upperedge of the second circle portion; said portion of a ring being adaptedto prevent the cam follower to rise when it is under said portion of aring; the cam follower being capable of entering the space between saidportion of a ring and the upper edge of the second circle portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D.GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FILLING BOTTLES, CANS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS, AFRAME, A VERTICAL SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, A CAM OFFERING ARING PATH FOR CAM FOLLOWERS, POSITIONED ABOUT SAID SHAFT, MEANS HOLDINGTHE CAM SO THAT SAID RING PATH IS CONSTANTLY CONCENTRIC WITH SAID SHAFT,A MEMBER FIXED ON SAID SHAFT AND RELEASABLE FOR SLIDING MOVEMENTTHEREALONG; SAID CAM BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID MEMBER TO MOVE WITH ITALONG SAID SHAFT, A VERTICAL POST FIXED TO THE FRAME, AN ARM EXTENDINGFROM SAID CAM SLIDABLY FITTED ON SAID POST FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG, ATLEAST ONE VERTICAL ELONGATED ELEMENT SLIDABLY MOUNTED THROUGH SAIDMEMBER, A VALVE-CONTROLLED DISCHARGE NOZZLE ADAPTED TO ENTER THECONTAINER TO BE FILLED, CARRIED ON SAID SLIDING ELEMENT, A CAM FOLLOWERCARRIED AT A FIXED POSITION ON SAID SLIDING ELEMENT; SAID CAM FOLLOWERBEING IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH SAID CAM RING PATH; SAID CAM PATH BEINGAT A PRESCRIBED HEIGHT ALONG A FIRST PREDETERMINED PORTION OF A CIRCLEAND AT A LOWER HEIGHT ALONG A SECOND PREDETERMINED PORTION OF SUCHCIRCLE; SAID CIRCLE PORTION S BEING SPACED; SAID CAM PATH ALONG THEREMAINING PORTIONS OF SAID CIRCLE, BEING SLANTED FROM SAID FIRST CIRCLEPORTION TO SAID SECOND CIRCLE PORTION; SAIDSLANTED CAM PATH PORTIONSRESPECTIVELY CONNECTING THE FIRST AND SECOND CIRCLE PORTIONS OF SAIDRING PATH WHEREBY SUCH PATH IS ENDLESS AND CONVEYOR MEANS BELOW THEDISCHARGE NOZZLE FOR TRANSPORTING A CONTAINER ALONG A PREDETERMINEDPORTION OF THE PATH OF SAID DISCHARGE NOZZLE AROUND SAID SHAFT.